No matter who you are you will suffer some in this life. Some because of sin. Some because of the refining of our faith, and some because of others sin. II Corinthians 4:8-9 Paul lists several types of suffering — mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual. Each of these are different ways that we can suffer, and when suffering comes, often several of these types of suffering are involved. Here he is expressing the suffering that he and others have suffered for a time he was utterly at a loss. He at one time had been reduced to despair, but he goes on to say that God always provided an outlet out of his worst perplexities. He relays that he had experienced persecution, but God had never forsaken him. He knew well Hebrews 13:5-6. The Holy Spirit had never left him even in times of great physical or mental distress. At times he had been cast down. This term literally meant flung to the ground, as in a lost battle. However, this did not leave him doomed or feeling as if he were going to perish. I’m sure as a good educated Jew, Paul was familiar with Psalm 37:24 “Though he fall, he shall not utterly be cast down, for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.”
II Corinthians 4:8-9 “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;”
Hebrews 13:5-6 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”
Sometimes people suffer because of sin in their life. A person who drinks alcohol may suffer from certain liver diseases. A person who smokes is in violation of I Corinthians 3:16-17. As a result of this he may suffer physical ailments related to his smoking.
I Corinthians 3:16-17 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”
The sins of others may cause us to suffer also. A father who refuses to work to support his family will cause his family to suffer. He will not be able to buy them the necessary things of life. Parents suffer grief because of the wrong doing of their children. These may be sufferings we have no control over and through no fault of our own we still suffer.
Our suffering can equip us to be a more useful servant. Ministry opportunities can formulate because of experiences we have had in life. For instance, those who have lost a child to death can be a help to others who face this tragedy. The parent who has a wayward child knows the heart of another parent that is experiencing the same thing. Firsthand experience in suffering, is vital to equipping us for ministry. II Corinthians 1:4 teaches us that God comforts us in our tribulation so that we can comfort others when they have tribulations and afflictions.
II Corinthians 1:4 “Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
We need to remember that when we are suffering, we are truly in a battle. Think of Job and Joseph. Neither of these men suffered because of any wrong doing on their part. Yet, they were in a battle for their soul. Satan wanted to sift them like wheat. His goal is always to break us and pull us away from God. His design is to get us to blame God for our suffering. He would love for us to take the attitude of Job’s wife when she told Job to “curse God and die.” Job and Joseph chose to bless God and trust him in the midst of their suffering. Joseph recognized that God was in control and God would always do what is best for him. We don’t always understand why we suffer of why our circumstances are what they are, but we must keep in mind that God is seeing the full picture. He is always working on our behalf.
Genesis 50:19-20 “And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”
Have you suffered for the cause of Christ? If so, praise Him and be honored that you were counted worthy to suffer for His cause. If your suffering is because of a sin that you have committed, repent and seek Christ. If you are in a refining process and it feels as if the weight is too great, hang on, be steadfast and unmovable while you are in the molding process.
Very good analysis of how God works. Thanks.